Weather Statistics for January 2006

Headline: A changeable month with a succession of frontal systems crossing the county separated by ridges of high pressure. Mostly mild despite a cold spell early on.

The month opened with low pressure north-west of Ireland. Weather fronts tied into this low brought spells of rain to the county on the 1st and 2nd. Despite the rain the month started reasonably warm for the time of year with daytime highs approaching 15C. As the low drifted towards the North Sea on the 2nd a cooler northerly airflow was introduced. High pressure developed across the region from the west and some good spells of sunshine were enjoyed on the 4th and 5th.

The high pressure gave way on the 6th to a southward moving weather front which brought with it spells of rain. Low pressure worked its way down through the North Sea maintaining the cooler northerly winds and some showery outbreaks of rain. On the 9th wintry showers during the day increasingly turned to snow overnight although the blanket of snow quickly melted in the strong sunshine the following morning.

A ridge of high pressure followed the low on the 10th, although this was to be a temporary feature soon replaced with an active system and spells of rain tracking eastwards on the 11th. Further fronts worked eastwards on the 12th and 13th again bringing spells of rain conveyed on a fairly brisk wind. Despite the rain these fronts served to introduce a much milder air mass across the region and it would remain mild until the end of the month. There were also some good spells of sunshine, particularly on the 14th. Over the next few days the region remained largely unaffected by frontal systems which tracked across northern areas of the UK. However, showers finally reached the county on the 17th. Again there were days of warm sunshine, particularly the 18th (8.7hrs).

High pressure developed on the 22nd although it failed to prevent a front from sinking southwards overnight introducing some rain. It was fairly sunny though by day. However, subsequent days were rather grey with early morning mist and fog. The high lasted until the 25th when it gave way to weather fronts off the Atlantic. These fronts weakened as they approached the county and generally did not give any rain until the 29th. Sunshine amounts gradually increased. Clear spells overnight on the 29th allowed temperatures to fall off on the 30th which hitherto had been reasonably mild. The month ended as another frontal system tracked eastwards.

Air Temperatures    
The Highest Maximum:   16.5C on 25th
The Lowest Maximum:   8.4C on 4th
The Highest Minimum:   9.4C on 20th
The Lowest Minimum:   -2.8C on 5th
The Mean Maximum:   13.3C  
The Mean Minimum:   4.8C  
The Overall Mean:   9.1C  
Difference from the Monthly Mean: 0.0C  
    
Relative Humidity:    
Highest Relative Humidity (at obs): 97.4% on 15th
Lowest Relative Humidity (at obs): 46.6% on 5th
Mean Relative Humidity (at obs): 80.3%  
    
Dew Point:    
The Highest Dew Point (at obs):  10.7C on 21st
The Lowest Dew Point (at obs):  -5.1C on 5th
The Mean Dew Point (at obs):  5.9C  
    
Rainfall:    
Total:     39.4mm  
Difference from the Monthly Mean: 75.0%  
Duration:    38.0hrs  
Highest 24 hour fall (obs to obs): 12.5mm on 9th
Rain Days (>/=0.2mm):   17   
Wet Days (>/=1.0mm):   10   
    
Sunshine:    
Total Duration of Bright Sunshine: 131.8hrs  
Sunniest day:    10.1hrs on 5th
Days without sunshine:   2
Cloud cover (mean at obs):  5.2oktas (65.0%)  
    
Pressure (reduced to sea level):    
The Highest Pressure:   1027.6mb on 28th
The Lowest Pressure:   1003.1mb on 2nd
Mean Pressure (recorded at obs): 1015.0mb  
    

Winds    
Run of wind (mean over 24 hrs): 120.0miles  
Mean daily wind speed:   6.5mph 
Highest mean daily wind speed:  13.9mph on  1st 
Run of wind:    3599.9miles  
Highest Maximum Gust:   35mph on 2nd
Highest wind strength (at obs):  19.6mph on 2nd
Mean wind strength (at obs):  8.9mph  
    
Winds from the Following Directions:    

N 4 NE 2 E 1 SE 0 S 4 SW 3 W 2 NW 12 Calm 2   
    
Ground Temperatures:     
Lowest Grass Minimum:   -5.2C on 5th
Mean Grass Minimum:   1.1C  
Lowest Concrete Minimum:  -1.5C on 5th
Mean Concrete Minimum:  5.1C  
Lowest Bare Earth Minimum:  -1.2C on 5th
Mean Bare Earth Minimum:  5.0C  
    
Soil/Earth Temperatures:     
Surface mean:    9.0C  
5cm mean:    8.2C  
10cm mean:    8.3C  
20cm mean:    8.8C  
30cm mean:    9.2C  
40cm mean:    9.1C  
50cm mean:    9.2C  
100cm mean:    7.8C  
    
    
Days with:    
Thunder:    0   
Hail less than 0.5mm:   0   
Hail greater than/equal to 0.5mm: 0   
Snow or snow & rain:   1
Snow lying:    0  
Fog     2
Air Frost:    3
Duration of Air Frost:   5.0hrs
Ground Frost:    11
Gales:     0  
        
    
Total Evaporation (tank)  48.05mm

All data © Pitsford Hall weather station.

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